2008 Lexus GS450h

The 2008 Lexus GS450h was a hybrid model of the Lexus GS. Basically the two models were the same in sense of styling, the only difference being that the GS450h was a hybrid. Styling wise, the GS450h was considered to be a better looking car than most other hybrids that were on the market at the time. Most other hybrids were very small, while the GS450h still had the long look to it that gave a touch of elegance. For those that were looking for a hybrid, the GS450h gave them more room than other cars in the same class, which was why many people chose the GS450h over other cars.

Performance wise, the GS450h held its own. However, most professionals compared the 450 to the plain GS. And when compared the 450 did fall short since it did not perform as well as the standard GS because it lost power since it was a hybrid. The car can go from zero to sixty in around six seconds, which is a shorter time than other cars that boast performance as the main reason for purchasing the car. The gasoline and electric engine combination could put out around 300 horsepower, which is impressive for any hybrid. Most people compared the performance of the 450 to that of a typical eight cylinder engine, which was something for a hybrid car. Gas mileage wise, the car gets around twenty-two miles per gallon in the city, while giving around twenty-five miles per gallon on the highway. Most critics of the car claimed that the fuel mileage was not impressive for a hybrid. However, given the sheer size of the car, this was to be expected. The only other complaint that many critics had about the car was that the steering wasn't what they expected for a Lexus, that has constantly produced cars that handled with ease and a feel of complete control. The stopping power of the 450 was something that many people were impressed with stating that it could stop the car on a dime, which was something that also factors into the safety of the car.

There were many safety features included on the 450 that really helped to boost the public opinion of the car. For example, the cruise control could detect when the car was getting close to a collision and would slow the car down automatically. In addition, the stability control of the car was something that impressed professionals as well as consumers. Standard safety features included side and front airbags, which did help the car receive an excellent rating in side and frontal impacts. In addition, the headlights and the taillights were LED lights that made the car more visible in the day and the night, which added to the safety of the car.

Overall, the hybrid model did not do as good as professionals had hoped and most people would simply purchase the GS edition of the car since they were basically the same. However, for the value of the car, you were still getting a great deal. For more information on the top cars of 2008, visit CEMA2008.com.